This is a controversial issue outside the borders of the EU and NATO. And that’s why Europeans, as Josep Borrell often explains, are trying to work diplomatically with the rest of the world to get UN resolutions and support pressure against Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
But the Global South is not the Western North. And the approach has more edges. So much so that this Monday there was more emphasis on calling for a peace process than talking about sending weapons: the opposite of what happened at the Atlantic Alliance summit in Vilnius a week ago.
This time, at the EU-SELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit, which was held for the first time in the last 8 years, the European partners wanted to talk about the relations between the two regions, but also about Ukraine. And that in itself is delaying the drafting of some of the conclusions, which were eventually signed by all but one country, Nicaragua.
From the beginning, there was a reluctance to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and, eventually, references to the US embargo on Cuba, as well as the colonial past and the recognition of the Venezuelan government – after the majority. 27, including Spain, recognized self-proclaimed Juan Guaido at the time – to limit objections to the resolution’s mention of Ukraine.
And what was the formula? Talking about “anxiety” about “war”. against Ukraine” without mentioning Russia and confirming that everyone except Daniel Ortega has approved the formula.
The 27’s insistence on prioritizing the conflict on European soil has overshadowed other pressing challenges in both regions, even though the EU has signed agreements with Chile, Argentina and Uruguay on raw material and energy supplies as part of it. Brussels’ strategy in search of alternatives to dependence on China; And despite the European Commission’s 45,000 million EU investment plan in Latin America.
On the other hand, regarding the climate emergency, the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, said in an interview with elDiario.es: “What do presidents do on behalf of their governments, countries, when they actually have to overcome the crisis. How deep is the reform of the economic system? What they are doing is rhetoric, which is a way of avoiding the problem. This is an ostrich. Rhetoric fills stages, forums, political meetings, policemen, etc. What I’ve seen this year is a lot of rhetoric, but virtually no action on what we might call fossil capital, which needs to be tackled in the first place.
The current President of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Selac, Ralph Gonsalves, said in his appearance at the end of the summit: “Not everyone was happy in all aspects. It is difficult to make a statement, we managed to talk about climate change, the reform of international organizations for sustainable development, we included slavery, the slave trade, Ukraine, the embargo on Cuba, the issue of participation. The private sector in the development of Latin America and Europe, human rights, compliance with international law and the UN Charter.
Indeed, the statement said: “We recognize and deeply regret the suffering of the millions of victims of the transatlantic slave trade and support the principles of the UN Durban Declaration.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assured: “We have launched an investment of 45,000 million for Latin America, more than 135 projects are already on the way, and now we must shape this investment agenda.”
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez acknowledged “the work of President Pedro Sánchez” in trying to reach an agreement: “He fulfilled the expectations of many. After eight years we were able to meet [la siguiente cumbre está prevista para el 2025, en Bogotá]. I am happy and satisfied, this is important for Latin America and the Caribbean. In the declaration, Europe recognizes many problems in Latin America. We are all concerned about the war in Ukraine and have always shown our readiness to help achieve lasting peace, war is not the way in a multilateral world that has its own organizations that must be respected.”
Fernández also noted that “for the first time there is talk of stopping extractivism without doing it, it has reached five centuries, but we have finally reached it. That we can think about land, value, European investment, it
It is encouraging. And just as encouraging as talking about democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.”
“The European Union’s position on the war in Ukraine is well known,” said the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. . We reached an agreement between the 60 EU countries and Selach. Only one country could not agree on one of the 41 points. Considering the difficulties, this is a great success.”
“Shadow” of 23J.
The proximity of next week’s general elections in Spain has affected the participation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, one of the hosts of the event, as the country that holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union this semester.
If on Monday afternoon he skipped a gala dinner with the rest of the leaders to go to and from Brussels for a rally in Huesca, on Tuesday he went straight to the airport after the meeting to arrive in time for the San Electoral event. Sebastian, with whom he was not present at the joint official press conference with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel; President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen; Celac’s current president, Ralph Gonsalves; and the previous president of the Multilateral Organization of Latin America, Alberto Fernandez of Argentina, who made the gesture towards Sanchez. “Now he is on a campaign, so he cannot be with us and we understand why he is not there.
His absence does not bother us, we really need him to carry out a campaign to preserve democratic values in Spain,” said Fernandez.
Moncloa sources explained about Sánchez’s absence at the final press conference: “The EU CELAC summit ended with an agreement between the participating countries and the president of the government participated until the end of the meeting. A follow-up press conference was delayed by more than three hours from the originally scheduled time, and the president returns to Spain to resume his election campaign, three days after it ended.
“Sanchez promised to prepare this summit of the European Union and Celac, he was with us until recently. I am pleased that the tenacity of Spain, led by President Sánchez, was important for this agreement,” Sánchez said.
Source: El Diario
